8/23/2012

Erie County Supreme Court Judge Kenneth Case has granted a 90 day stay in the case involving the the future of the Bethlehem Steel Administration building, the best example of any administration building for an extant industrial complex in Western New York. This photo is from Steel Plant Museum.

During this period Gateway Corporation will fully explore the possible reuse of this heritage building. fixBuffalo learned today that the completion of the National Register application that local preservationist Darren Cotten is currently writing will play a role in the building's future. Darren is a founding member of the Lackawanna Industrial Heritage Group (LIHG). This newly formed preservation advocacy group recently convened a number of meetings with local attorney William Magavern, Jason Yots - preservation consultant and Lackawanna's Common Council President Henry Pirowski and the building's owner.

During a recent meeting Jason Yots presented a compelling case involving the use of tax credit financing for a heritage reuse proposal. This proposal, along with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recent decision to require a second survey of the building, has helped shape this new dialog around the building's future.

I discussed the outcome of yesterday's court decision with a number of LIHG's founding members today. They were excited to know that the Court, City of Lackawanna and the building's owners are now on board with some of the best urban planning and preservation practices in the region. In Buffalo we've learned that heritage building restoration often begins with bright shinning lights. The lighting of the Richardson Complex comes to mind. Imagine for a moment - removing the overgrown trees in front of the building and installing a few spotlights. The Bethlehem Steel Administration Building is an amazing building by day. It will be brilliant by night.

8/21/2012

Lackawanna Mayor Geoffrey Szymanski will now seek a one week adjournment in the case involving the Bethlehem Steel Administration Building, according to Common Council President Hank Pirowski, who called today. Judge Kenneth Case hears the matter tomorrow morning at 10 am in Erie County Supreme Court. The adjournment will give both sides additional time to agree on the specific language for a longer stay providing Gateway Corporation additional time to explore its alternatives.

According to Pirowski, the City of Lackawanna is willing to give adaptive reuse a second look. As early as yesterday, the Mayor's position was unwavering: seek immediate demolition.

The Lackawanna Industrial Heritage Group has been working closely with attorney William Magavern, preservation consultant Jason Yots, and the building's owner to find alternatives to demolition. The fate of the Bethlehem Steel Administration Building was to be decided on Wednseday morning in Judge Case's court. There's hope for Old North.

8/16/2012

Local preservationist, artist and house historian Dana Saylor recently found this picture of 557 East Utica. It's from the mid 1950's and depicts a gorgeous City residence.

The negotiated 30 day demolition stay with City officials expires next Friday. 557 East Utica has one week left before it's trucked to a landfill.

Please take a moment to circulate this post about 557 East Utica to individuals and groups in your networks. There's a Buffalo Rising post and comment stream that appeared shortly after the announcement was made to halt the demolition. Two other local preservationist bloggers picked up the story. Kevin posted at Unbreakmyhouse and Mike Puma posted at Views of Buffalo.

Please email me if you're interested in purchasing the house and presenting a qualified purchase offer. Terry Robinson - Preservation Buffalo Niagara Board member - lives around the corner and has agreed to help a prospective buyer better understand the neighborhood. You can reach Terry via email.